"'Treading on frost'?" Kou Yuan sneered. "One who treads on frost takes heed of the smallest signs. One who borrows another's name deceives his sovereign."
"You deceive your sovereign, yet claim to warn the world..."
"Hah, Qi Zhao, how have you the face to utter those words?"
With that rebuke, Kou Yuan strode forward, his voice shaking the palace rafters. "I took you as my right-hand man and treated you as my own nephew.
You gave me a peach of wood; I repaid you with precious jade.
And what did you give me in return? Forged letters, arrows from the shadows, and a blade that broke our pact!
Qi Zhao, you did not do this for the upright officials. You did it for Qi Zhao!"
Qi Zhao gaped, utterly speechless for a moment.
Now everyone in the hall understood.
This was not the upright officials declaring war on the Chief Minister. This was the upright officials sinking their teeth into one of their own and killing him.
Among the Ministry of Revenue officials, Xu Bingwen lowered his eyes briefly, then stepped out holding his ceremonial tablet.
He did not look at Qi Zhao, only at the Imperial Throne.
"Your Majesty, I have something to say."
"Vice Minister Qi fabricated accusations under another man's name, disgracing the upright officials."
"Vice Minister Qi and I serve in the same ministry. Until now, I had thought him a man with a reputation for forthrightness.
Only today did I learn that such intentions lay hidden beneath that reputation."
"I ask Your Majesty to investigate this matter clearly."
At the same time, the Censors among the upright officials followed him out of the ranks:
"Your Majesty! Qi Zhao borrowed Grand Secretary Kou's name to frame a senior minister and sow discord among the court